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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-0701 REG MIN~OLL CALL APPROVAL OF MINUTES MINUTES OF BOARDS ASHLAND COUNTRY STORE PARKING BAY CPN STREET CUT PERMIT Spring Cr. Drive CONGREGATIONAL SINGING NOISE PERMIT PUBLIC FORUM: ASHLAND CAB COMPANY AGAPE SUBDIVISION MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL July 1, 1980 Mayor Prickett led the Pledge of Allegiance and called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. on the above date in the Council Chambers. Phelps, Medaris and Ragland were present. Hamilton arrived moments after roll call and Sims arrived at 7:40 p.m. Laws was absent. Ragland moved to approve minutes of the adjourned meeting of June 10, ~ executive and regular meetings of June 17, 1980; Phelps seconded and on voice vote motion passed with all ayes. Medaris moved to accept minutes of Boards, Commissions and Committees as submitted; Phelps seconded and the motion passed with all YES on voice vote. A letter was read from David M. Off, attorney for owner (Ervin) of the Ashland Country Store requesting consideration for construction of a parking bay to accommodate her store when the bike path is cons- tructed. Almquist said the request was reviewed by the Traffic Safety Commission when it had made decision on the whole area. Mr. Off spoke on behalf of Ms. Ervin saying that she had missed the public hearings when the bike path construction matters were discussed when she was away from the City. Off said that the limited parking space available on the North side of East Main and along 8th Street is in- adequate for customers and makes staying in business difficult with the disadvantage of available parking. Director of Public Works Alsing suggested expanding parking on both sides of 8th Street. After further discussion Phelps moved to refer matter back to Traffic Safety Commission, Ragland seconded and on roll call, all YES. A request from California-Pacific Utility to portion of Spring Creek Drive to install a gas service. After having discussed the matter and agreeing that the service should have been installed prior to paving, Ragland moved to deny; Phelps seconded and the motion passed unanimously on roll call vote. A request was read from Edna Ragan to conduct a congregational singing event on August 16, 1980 at Ashland Senior High School football field between the hours of 7:30 p.m. to midnight. Sims moved to approve; Ragland seconded and the motion passed unanimously on roll call vote. Dennis Perkins, owner of Ashland Cab Company expressed concern that loopholes in the franchise ordinance do not clarify the definition of "taxi" in a way which would preclude other type carriers from the same service and jeopardize his position as franchisee. Mayor Pricket asked that City Attorney Salter research the wording of the ordinance. Ron Laber of 687 Clay Street reported that in the development of the Agape Subdivision by Toney & Wine that certain provisions were to be made for drainage according to the City and at this point such provis- ions have not been made. Alsing, Director of Public Works, said that the developers have not completed the subdivision as yet. Laber argued that had developers planned on providing drainage, they would (or should) have implemented this phase of the work prior to the building of houses. Fregonese was asked to check matter & report back 7/1/80 Pg, Regular Meeting Ashland City Council 7/1/80 P. 2 · UBLIC FORUM Agape Subd. TRAFFIC SAFETY RECOM. Randy & Laurel S. Mountain/Pleasant Way stop sign Laber expressed concern over height of grass around the Agape Sub- division causing a fire hazard and added to that danger is the use of dirt bikes in the area where sparks could be a problem. Almquist said that the fire prevention unit has been giving notices on weeds. Phelps added his concern of fire hazards and cited the house on Siskiyou Blvd. which burned some time ago and has not been rehabilitat- ed as a dangerous situation. Almquist said that four places have been given notices and two of them have been put' into the hands of the City Attorney for prosecution. A recommendation that stop signs be placed at the intersection of Randy & Laurel Streets so that traffic will be stopped on Randy Street and Laurel will be a through street was considered and Ragland moved to approve; Hamilton seconded and on roll call, all YES. The Traffic Commission's second recommendation was submitted to deny removal of stop sign on Mountain Avenue at Pleasant Way as requested by residents in the vicinity of South Mountain Avenue. A letter was read from Virginia Westerfield supporting removal of sign. John Bod- illy, 1100 Emma Street spoke in favor of removing stop sign citing reasons as 1) if cars are parked on the right side of the street, it is impossible to see the sign; 2) children & pets come out from betweel parked cars and can't be seen & stop sign doesn't help; 3) going down S. Mountain in the winter you can't stop on the black ice and going up you can't stop and still make it up the hill, and 4) the bulk of the traffic is on S. Mountain with very little coming in at Pleasant Way. Joe Butler of 789 S. Mtn. distributed the petition and agreed with Bodilly's arguments for removal and said that had he known the Traffic Safety Commission was considering the matter he would have made more facts and figures available which probably would have change, their 2-2 vote to deny. Virginia Christtieb of Emma Street cited the dangers of the stop sign saying it gives children, cyclists and skate- boarders a false sense of security and its no place to play. Bill Brubaker spoke in favor of sign removal and showed several photos of the terrain etc. and said the stop sign had been erected as a speed deterrent. Brubaker said that there are no speed warning signs and recommended they be considered and that 20 mph would be a safe speed~ and suggested that Pleasant Way be made a one-way street going down and that S. Mountain be widened. Tom Pyle spoke for people below Prospect saying there were two petitions involved and the one he speaks to is to have the stop sign for speed control and that parking makes visibility difficult, if not nil, and that the lack of sidewalks poses a danger for children walking to school. Phelps said the street has turned into an arterial street and the funnel situation to lower Mountain where the street is wider and that something needs to be done to assure safety of residents. Sims moved that stop sign be removed and Medaris seconded. Hamilton moved to amend to send back to consider alternatives to the general problem. Mayor Prickerr recommended that the residents in the neighborhood get together and attend the Traffic Safety Connnission meeting with positive input for a solution to the problem. Sims and Medaris agreed toamendment and motion passed unanimously on roll call vote. 7/1/80 P. 2 Regular Meeting Ashland City Council 7/1/80 F. ~RAFFIC SAFETY RECOMM. cont. Planning Action 80-42 Request from Pacific Northwest Bell for 15 minutes parking spaces on Main Street which was denied by Traffic Safety Commission was con- sidered and Sims moved to approve recommendation to deny; Ragland seconded and on roll call passed unanimously. Recommedation to place a stop sign on Water Street at VanNess was considered and Sims moved to approve; Ragland seconded and on roll call passed unanimously. A memo was read from the Planning Connnission reporting approval of a request for a sign variance to allow a s square foot directional sign to be placed on the alley side of Ashland Hardware which would be an off-premise sign and contrary to the sign ordinance. A copy of the staff report, minutes and findings concerning the request were made part of the record. It was noted that the Historic Commission found nothing distasteful about the sign, and recommended the alley be named after the Dodge family. Ragland reviewed progress experienced by Ashland in aesthetically developing the downtown area as one with- out the clutter of signs etc. and said the sign ordinance and strict enforcement has resulted in something we can be proud of. Fregonese showed slides to illustrate Ragland's point with slides of before and after the ordinance became a fact of life in Ashland. Ragland said that more and more requests are coming in and fears the code could be eroded by variances. Judy Patterson, 1032 Timberline, said she couldn't agree more with Ragland and that the sign she has requested is tastefully done and is a directional as opposed to advertising sign for specific business. Patterson said she has done much to develop the area around her store and now with new businesses in there the need to make known the stores exist is critical. Patterson showed pictures of the area and exposure of the sign. Judy Straus, manager of Paddington Station said that twenty people a day ask directions to various places of business due to lack of signs. Veronica Stathos said that those businesses were not there when the sign ordinance was first conceived and that C St is the next area which will develop in Ashland' business community. Margaret Dodge spoke in favor of the sign which would be on her building and said she would be pleased should the alley be named after J. P. Dodge. Phelps said he would like to see the alley developed into a J. P. Dodge Walk and brought up to pedes- train standards by adjacent property owners with hours posted for certain delivery etc. activity. Mayor Prickett said on the suggestion that it be for pedestrians only, public hearings would need to Be held if keeping vehicles out were seriously considered. Sims moved to approve placement of sign as requested; Medaris seconded. Ragland warned Council of precedent setting and erosion of strict sign code. Phelps agreed saying the mall concept would be better aesthetically and practical as opposed to sign. On roll call Sims, Medaris and Hamilton voted YES. Phelps and Ragland voted against the motion which carried. 7/1/80 P. 3 R~gular Meeting Ashland City Council 7/1/80 Pz HISTORIC COMMISSION MEMO - Trees & Excav. PLANNING ACTIONS 80-11, 80-23, and 80-33 R. W. BECK REPORT ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS & CONTRACTS Dogs in Cemeteries 2nd & B St. Stop Sign Emerick Street Vacation Bikeway Grant Agreement const. of E. Main path FAUS Project Memorandum of Under- standing - City Emp. A memorandum was read from the Historic Conm~ission recommending that a review process be established with public input prior to the removal of trees to include an opinion from a professional landscaper or tree surgeon when a question of disease is involved before a tree is re- moved. Also recommended was that in the Historic Interest Area in excavation any artifacts be protected. Peter Giffin who said he is a horticulturist criticized the removal of cypress trees and certain elm trees and urged that Council consider an opinion by a profession- al as some trees can be cured by removing dead limbs and treating rather than total removal. Sims moved that amendments be brought back by City Attorney in accord with redommendations by Historic Committee and that a committee be formed to volunteer services on tree removal decisions etc. and to make recommendation to City Admin- istrator on Historic Area trees; Ragland seconded and on roll call, all YES. Public Hearing was set for items noted to be held July 15, 1980 at 7:30 P.M. Study session set for July 22, 1980 at 7:30 P.M. Second reading by title only was given an ordinance relative to dogs in cemeteries and Ragland moved for adoption; Medaris seconded and motion passed unanimously on roll call vote. Second reading by title only was given an ordinance removing stop signs on 2nd and "B" Streets and Ragland moved to adopt; Phelps seconded and on roll call passed unanimously. Sims left the meeting. First reading was given an ordinance vacating an unopened alley located between Emerick Street and Mountain Avenue, South of "B" Street. Medaris moved to second reading; Hamilton seconded and the motion passed unanimously on roll call vote. A resolution was read authorizing Mayor and Recorder to sign a grant agreement with State Highway Division for construction of East Main bikeway and Phelps moved to adopt; Hamilton seconded and the motion passed with all YES,on roll call vote. A resolution determining necessity for appropriations of certain land for public use in connection with Hersey Street FAUS project was read and Hamilton moved to adopt; Medaris seconded and the motion passed unanimously on roll call vote. A resolution ratifying a Memorandum of Understand with Ashland City Employees Association for 1980-81 was read and Almquist noted that reclassification of Switchboard Operator to Clerk II will be separ- ate. Hamilton moved for adoption; Medaris seconded and on roll call all YES. 7/1/80 P.4 Regular Meetl , Ashland City Council 7/1/80 P.5 Confidential Employees Grant Agreement/Sr. Program Justice Center Contract Liaison Reports ADJOURNMENT Nan E. F~anklin Recorder A resolution setting forth salaries and benefits for confidential employees for fiscal year 1980-81 was read and Medaris moved for adoption; Phelps seconded and on roll call passed unanimously. Grant agreement with Jackson County for Ashland Senior Program for Fiscal Year 1980-81 was presented and Almqulst noted that our carrier would assume responsibility rather than the criteria outlined in paragraph 4 of page two of the agreement. Medaris moved to authorize signatures with amendment and Hamilton seconded the motion. On roll call vote the motion passed unanimously. Professional Services Contract with Afseth et al for architectural services in connection with design of the Justice Center was con- sidered and Almquist recommended the firm. Phelps moved to authorize signatures of Mayor and Recorder; Medaris seconded and the motion passed unanimously on roll call vote. Meeting on N. Interchange to be held at 1:30 p.m. on July 2, 1980 at the Jackson County Courthouse. Phelps reported on Air Quality meeting and recommended that Council follow the action - or lack of same - by Medford City Council since a lack of implementations to reduce pollution could cause funds to ~e ~ithheld in the whole C~unty and ~ot ~ t Meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m. tt Mayor ih